Sara Arezoumand Lakmehsary
About Sara
Sara Arezoumand Lakmehsary is housed at the Institute for Transportation, contributing to various research on projects associated with the Center for Transportation Research and Education.
Allie Hoffman
About Allie
Allie Hoffman has been the office coordinator for the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center since October 2025. Her duties include communicating with research and administrative committees for the center; coordinating meetings, webinars, and conferences; making and processing extensive travel arrangements; and other administrative tasks associated with the operation of the center.
Parshva Patel
About Parshva
Parshva Patel is housed at the Institute for Transportation, contributing to various research on projects associated with the Construction Management and Technology (CMAT) program.
Wasama Abdullah
About Wasama
Ms. Wasama Abdullah is a research engineer at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation. She contributes to transportation safety projects involving connected vehicle data, second Strategic Highway Program (SHRP2) naturalistic driving data, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) related technologies, with applications in traffic simulation modeling and the development of evidence-based safety strategies.
Her research integrates big data analytics, automation, spatial and temporal analyses, and web-based mapping to examine driver behavior and roadway interactions, alongside speed modeling, vehicle trajectory analysis, and statistical modeling to support behavior-driven evaluations.
Resume
Education
- PhD, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University (Expected)
- MS, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University, 2020
- BS, Civil Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, 2017
Certifications
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT-0105)
- McTrans Course: Highway Safety Analysis Based on HSM/HSS, Spring 2022
- Designing Signalized Intersections Program, Spring 2022
Professional Experience
- Research Engineer, Center for Transportation Research and Education, Institute for Transportation, 2025–present
- Builds upon prior graduate assistantship responsibilities with expanded scope across a dynamic speed feedback sign (DSFS) project for Iowa DOT, Horizontal Sightline Offset (HSO) methodology development, and speed management workshops for a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project (NCHRP 14-117).
- Leads the evaluation of ADAS impacts using the SHRP2 naturalistic driving data, focusing on real-world driver behavior, treatment site interactions, and behavioral modeling for a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) project
- Develops automated workflows in ArcGIS and ArcPy using directional logic and custom geospatial identifiers for spatial processing of large-scale waypoint data.
- Applies traffic simulation modeling, temporal trend analysis, and ADT-based visualizations to assess safety impacts and operational outcomes.
- Conducts statistical modeling, speed profiling, and behavior-driven evaluations to support evidence-based safety strategies across multiple project contexts.
- Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Transportation, 2024–2025
- Utilized connected vehicle and NDS data to identify influence zones, generate speed profiles, and analyze driver behaviors and speeding patterns for a DSFS project funded by the Iowa DOT, among other responsibilities.
- Contributed to the research and technical documentation of deriving new mathematical methodologies to calculate HSO in alignment with American Association State Highway Transportation Officals (AASHTO) and roadway design standards.
- Collaborated on logistical support & identified stakeholders for input on NCHRP 14-117
- Civil Engineer, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC, Johnston IA, 2020–2023
- Played a key role in the City of Johnston Comprehensive Traffic Study, conducted several traffic and safety impact studies across various scales and significance, conducted multiple location-specific studies, created comprehensive roadway design plans and sheets, and performed field reviews as a Resident Engineer/Observer
- Transportation Safety Data Analyst Intern, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2020
- Conducted safety performance analyses using GIS data to evaluate the impact of implemented countermeasures, reviewed Intersection Conflict Warning System (ICWS) locations, and collaborated with the traffic and safety team to assess wrong-way driving locations and proposed solutions for high-risk sites.
- Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Transportation, 2018–2020
- Actively provided support for the on-demand Iowa Traffic Safety Data Service (ITSDS) requests, coordinated the Iowa DOT Intersections data project, and contributed to the Iowa DOT’s adoption of the FHWA Highway Safety Manual (HSM) calibration tool
- Part-time Site Engineer, Global Engineering Consortium (GEC), Amman, Jordan, 2018
- Transportation Planning and Procurement Engineer, Al-Derah Contracting Company (DCC), Amman, Jordan, 2017–2018
Selected Presentations
- Transforming Roundabout Design with Data Driven Speed Prediction, Missouri Valley District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (MOVITE) Poster Competition, 2024
- Using Big Data for Safety Network Screening, Iowa Section of Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting, 2023
- Quantifying the Relationship Between Skid Resistance and Crashes for Iowa Roadways, Iowa Section of ITE Annual Meeting, 2021
Professional Affiliations, Honors, and Service
- President, Transportation Students Association (TSA), 2024–present
- Chair, Events Committee, Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), 2023–present
- Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2020–present
- Jan Kibbe Student Scholarship, Missouri Valley District ITE (MOVITE), 2025
- Iowa Section of ITE: Inaugural Student Excellence Scholarship, 2024
- Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship, WTS, 2019
- Undergraduate National Excellence Scholarship, Elia Nuqul Foundation, 2012–2016
Shoaib Mahmud
About Shoaib
Shoaib Mahmud is housed at the Institute for Transportation, contributing to various research on projects associated with the Center for Transportation Research and Education.
Andalib Shams
About Andalib
Andalib Shams is housed at the Institute for Transportation, contributing to various research on projects associated with the Center for Transportation Research and Education.
Neeve Funston
About Neeve
Ms. Neeve Funston is a communications specialist working with the Institute for Transportation’s communications group. Her primary responsibilities include editing research reports and manuals, preparing newsletters, and assisting with website maintenance. Prior to joining InTrans, she held a variety of copyediting roles in both industry and academia.
Resume
Education
- BA, Linguistics, Iowa State University, 2022
- Minor in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language
- BS, Technical Communication, Iowa State University, 2022
Professional Experience
- Communications Specialist, Institute for Transportation, Iowa State University, 2024-present
- Copyeditor, Global Reach Internet Productions, 2023-2024
- Grant and Proposal Copyeditor, Language Processing, Acquisition, and Change (PACE) Laboratory, Iowa State University, 2022
- Teaching Assistant, Department of English, Iowa State University, 2020-2021
Sherrie LaFleur
About Sherrie
Sherrie LaFleur is the research and event administrator for the Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program. She provides event coordination as well as administrative support. Sherrie provides support to Iowa LTAP staff with the coordination of events and workshops and in the delivery of transportation training and outreach efforts to local agency officials.
Maroa Mumtarin
About Maroa
Maroa Mumtarin is housed at the Institute for Transportation, contributing to various research on projects associated with the Center for Transportation Research and Education.
Brittany Eide
About Brittany
Brittany Eide is a Web Developer and UX/UI Designer for the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) program and Iowa Public Works Service Bureau (PWSB). She oversees the PWSB website and designs interactive experiences, from the early stages of ideation and user research, user flows and journeys, design, and prototyping to the final usability tests.
Brittany has over 5 years of experience in communications, marketing, and design roles in the academia, nonprofit, and game industries.